The Control Group Partners with Junior Achievement of San Diego for Hour of Code

Share Article

Hoover High School Students Will Learn Basic Code as a Part of Computer Science Education Week

Hour of Code 2014

The technology field is exploding especially here in San Diego. Through events like Hour of Code, students see not only how important learning to code is for their possible future careers, but also how fun it can be.

The event on Monday, Dec. 7 at Hoover High, located at 4474 El Cajon Blvd. from 7 AM to 10 AM is designed for Hoover Academy of Information Technology’s (AOIT) students. These students are currently taking high-level courses specifically designed for a future career in computer technology.

In addition to presentations on the various job positions at The Control Group, one of the fastest growing technology companies in San Diego, software developers from the company will help demystify computer science and teach students that anyone can learn the basics of coding.

Students who attend Hoover High in City Heights have enjoyed the benefits of cutting edge educational reforms. Over the past decade, city leaders and educators have been working together to create solutions to the problems traditionally faced by low income areas such as City Heights.

"During my 20 years teaching at Hoover High and participating in community partnerships, I have seen tremendous change for the good in the academic culture at our school," said Bryan Voltner, director of the Academy of Information Technology at Hoover High. "Because of partnerships with companies like The Control Group and programs like the AOIT, students see the relevancy of their education. We are developing the next generation of San Diego leaders."

Computer Science Education Week (Dec 7 -11) is a national program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in and pursue careers in computer science. Careers in computers are slated to grow over the next several decades. In fact, there are too few Americans with the necessary technical skills to meet companies’ demand.

Josecruz Morales, an AOIT student at Hoover High School, is looking forward to the Hour of Code event. “You can get the skills you need in the world now, or you can fall behind,” said the 11th grader. “It may be harsh, but this world is moving fast and you need to get with it."

"The technology field is exploding especially here in San Diego. Through events like Hour of Code, students see not only how important learning to code is for their possible future careers, but also how fun it can be," said Tischa Culver, Public Relations and Communications Specialist at The Control Group. “We hope this event will encourage the students to continue to work hard and to ultimately consider pursuing a post-secondary education and/or career in computer sciences.”

The JA Job Shadow Initiative strives to inform, inspire and prepare students to be successful in their future professional pursuits by giving them the opportunity to learn from working professionals. “The need for these high-tech skills is critical to the San Diego workforce and we are so thankful to Hoover High and The Control Group for giving us the unique opportunity to teach technological literacy to our kids,” said Flora Barron, Work-Based Learning Manager at Junior Achievement of San Diego, a nonprofit that teaches young people how to get a job, how to manage money and how to get a job.

Statistics

With over 5,000 technology companies and over 50,000 jobs, San Diego is the fastest growing area for software engineers in the country.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Science Foundation, by 2020, there will be one million more jobs than students entering the coding and computer science fields.

According to the National Science Foundation, there are fewer computer science majors than 10 years ago, and the shrinking percentage are women and minorities.

Computer science drives innovation in the US economy and society. Despite growing demand for jobs in the field, it remains marginalized throughout the US K-12 education system.

Currently, 25 states still don't allow students to count computer science courses toward high school graduation.

Computing occupations are among the highest-paying jobs for new graduates. Yet fewer than 3% of college students graduate with a degree in computer science.

In 36 states, computer science classes don’t count toward math or science high school graduation requirements.
A.P. Computer Science is taught in only 5% of U.S. high schools.

Fewer than 20 percent of AP Computer Science students are women. Fewer than 10 percent are Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino.

About The Control Group
Created in 2011, The Control Group is one of the fastest-growing technology companies headquartered in San Diego. Their expertise is in web development and internet marketing. The company is the developer of InstantCheckmate.com, one of the top people search engines in the world and NextGen Leads, an extremely high quality insurance leads platform focused on streamlining lead acquisition. Because the company is already profitable, it has been able to develop a company culture that is shaking up the Technology Sector. Core to the company culture is its reach into the community to make a positive impact by volunteering, supporting, and getting involved in numerous important causes.

About Junior Achievement
Since 1950, Junior Achievement of San Diego County has provided life-changing programs to more than 730,000 youth—in the classroom and after school—to foster an understanding of how the “real world” works. To ensure youth are prepared for their future, JA teaches them how to get a job, start a business and how to manage money. During the 2014/2015-calendar school year, JA of San Diego served more than 55,000 students, K-12, including 15,000 5th graders at the popular McGrath Family JA BizTown. With the launch of Mission Fed JA Finance Park, JA’s goal is to serve nearly 70,000 youth from 36 school districts during the 2015/2016-calendar school year. JA programs reach every ethnic and economic demographic. For many students, the JA experience is a major highlight of their academic year. More than 5,200 volunteers annually, including 48 board members, a staff of 22 and a budget of $3 million help to keep the JA experience relevant for youth. For the latest news and information, please visit: jasandiego.org